British organization urges food labels showing activity needed to burn calories

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) on Friday called for the introduction of "activity equivalent" calorie labeling on food and drink, which could illustrate how much activity needed to burn off the calories contained in them.

These labels should take the form of prominent pictorial icons alongside existing front-of-pack information and it is hoped this would increase consumer awareness both of the calories contained within food and drink and the activity required to burn off the calories individuals consume, according to RSPH.

RSPH's own research found two-thirds of local people would support the new labels, with over half saying it would cause them to make positive behavior changes such as choosing healthier products, eating smaller portions or doing more physical exercise.

"Although nutritional information provided on food and drink packaging has improved it is evident that it isn't working as well as it could to support the public in making healthy choices," said Shirley Cramer, chief executive of RSPH.

Activity equivalent calorie labeling provides a simple means of making the calories contained within food and drink more related to people's everyday lives, while also gently reminding consumers of the need to maintain active lifestyles and a healthy weight, said Cramer. Endit